Akwa Ibom State government said it has begun the Nigeria State-level Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey across the 31 local government areas of the state.
Addressing a press conference on Friday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Augustine Umoh said the exercise which would last between August and September ending was supported by the Federal Government and international partners such as United States President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Public Health Information Surveillance Solution Systems (PHIS3) among others.
Umoh said the survey was aimed at ascertaining how well HIV programmes are working in the state with the view of improving the wellbeing of the people.
He added that it targets 3000 households during which approximately 5,346 persons between the ages of 15-64 will be interviewed and tested.
The tests would determine the proportion of individuals living with HIV that are receiving lifesaving ART as well as the percentage of those already on HIV treatment whose viral load has been suppressed such that they can’t transmit the virus to other persons.
The commissioner explained that the data collected from the survey would inform health policies and strategies to enhance HIV testing, treatment and care services in the state.
He further explained that the survey will help in identifying systemic challenges and opportunities for strengthening health systems for better support of individuals living with HIV, saying that the goal of the exercise is to control and end the HIV epidemic in Akwa Ibom State.
“The survey will help us understand bio behavioural patterns and factors associated with HIV virus suppression in people living with HIV who are on ART to strengthen support services,” he said.
The commissioner, therefore, urged residents of Akwa Ibom to ensure the success of the exercise by availing the visiting teams the necessary information and opportunity to carry out HIV tests.
HIV: Akwa Ibom begins ART Impact Survey
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